LYNETTE GUEST

 

Lynette May Guest was born in 1955 at Yarrawonga. When she was about four years old her parents Les and May noticed their young daughter showing an interest in singing as the family had musical evenings, mainly country, so they encouraged her. Her dad bought a guitar to learn to play it, but he didn’t, so May learnt it and taught Lynette, who was soon playing and singing. Aged seven, Lynette made her first TV appearance, live to air. While still making regular TV appearances, she competed in numerous talent quests around NSW and Victoria. In 1966 Lynette won a talent quest at GMV6 Shepparton and was invited to appear on Brian and The Juniors on HSV7 Melbourne, hosted by Brian Naylor.

In 1970 The Guest family travelled to Adelaide from Mulwala for Lynette to appear on Reg Lindsay’s Country and Western Hour on NWS9. Lynette sang two songs ''Yodelling Cowgirl'' and ''Peace In The Valley''. She then travelled around Australia with the Buddy Williams Show. During this tour while in Sydney she recorded harmony vocals on Buddy’s LP, 'Aussie On My Mind' and the Tex Morton, Buddy Williams, Sister Dorrie single, ''I Love Country Music''. She also made an appearance on the Tex Ritter UNICEF show that travelled around the world at the time.

She then appeared on John Williamson’s Travlin’ Out West TV show, which was recorded in Newcastle. When not on the road, Lynette did shows with the local Yackandandah CM Club and other clubs in the area and various artists such as Ray Kernaghan. In 1974 she was a finalist in the Australasian CM Awards for the Wilf Carter song, ''Yodelling Cowgirl'', from an album recorded live at a Parkes CMF concert. The following year she entered the CCMA Talent Quest and Jamboree, Tamworth, taking home the overall trophy. She was then signed by Opal Records in Tamworth. The first single released was ''For The First Time / Macleay Street Sydney''. In 1976 the album 'Be My Guest' was released and she promoted her new album, touring with Rex Dallas.

In the late 70s she worked with the harmony backing trio Skarlet (with Clelia Adams and Cate McCarthy), who were much in demand on the club and pub scene as well as back-up singers for the Australasian CM Awards, 2TM’s live radio show Country Muster and other events. In 1982 she appeared on Terry Gordon’s Must Be Country TV show, and also with Skarlet. In 1983 Lynette released her second album through Opal Records, 'Blue Days and Dark Nights'. In 1990 she was inducted into the Hands of Fame, Tamworth.

During the 90s she was kept busy singing in shows throughout NSW with fellow entertainers including Wayne Horsburgh, Ian Betteridge and Patti Morgan and released a new album with LBS Music, 'Trail of Dreams', produced by Lindsay Butler. In 2008 she won Female Vocal (Murray River Blues) and Group or Duo with Tom Maxwell for ''A Bushman Can’t Survive'' at the Stan Coster MBBAs. The following year she won Female Vocalist of the Year at the South-East GMMAs. In 2024 she won an OAM for her contribution to country music and charity.

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